Around the Arch Blog

Yesterday, the Reno City Council approved donation funds to sponsor the “The Rolling Pilot”, the first known paraplegic hot air balloon pilot, for the 2010 Great Reno Balloon Race (GRBR).

The donation of $1,899 ($899 to GRBR, Inc. and $1,000 to the Northern Nevada Center for Independent Living) will sponsor the participation and defray expenses associated with the participation.

“The Rolling Pilot” is scheduled to make two presentations at area schools in September. In addition, he will be taking one passenger with him during the 2010 GRBR competition. The RAAC is coordinating the passenger selection with the Washoe County School District and other local non-profit organizations who serve youth with disabilities. The “Rolling Pilot” will be available to meet with local media on media day during the 2010 GRBR.

The support of “The Rolling Pilot’s” participation in the 2010 GRBR will further the mission of the RAAC by visually promoting the City’s on-going commitment to inclusion of individuals with disabilities in all facets of civic life.

Council donation funds can only be used for nonprofit organizations that provide substantial benefits within our community. These monies are allocated throughout the fiscal year.

“West Street Sundays” is a brand new feature at the West Street Market. It starts this Sunday, June 13 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and will be held on every Sunday through September 26.

What is “West Street Sundays?” It features a Farmer’s Market where you can buy the freshest locally grown produce and much more. You can have brunch, listen to live music, have drinks, snacks and even take in a wonderful array of fresh produce.

The West Street Market is a Reno Redevelopment project that created new opportunities for small local businesses, local farmers and local programs as well as a number of local artisans and performers. The urban market has an eco-friendly theme that serves as a community gathering and the Market is still growing.

The Redevelopment project vastly improved the area restoring two dilapidated, vacant historic buildings transforming the block from an undesirable area into one where families, students, senior citizens and downtown residents can grab a bite, enjoy a cup of coffee glass or glass of wine, or sit outside and listen to live music or watch a performance.

The Market is open seven days a week and is located on West Street between First and Second Streets. For more information about the Market or upcoming events visit  www.RenoWestStreetMarket.com.

***Free validated parking is available at the Parking Gallery on First Street 7 days a week.

Artists interested in painting the City of Reno’s Windspire wind turbine during a live Artown event have one week left to submit their qualifications. Deadline for submissions is Monday, May 24.

The project is a partnership between Windspire Energy, the City of Reno, and Artown that seeks to draw attention to Reno’s commitment to arts and renewable energy during the month long art festival. The artist(s) selected for this project will work closely with Windspire Energy and the City of Reno to design and paint the 10 foot base pole of the Windspire that will be installed on the roof of the Downtown Parking Gallery. The Artown live painting event will be held on July 8 at the West Street Market.

Windspire Energy (formerly Mariah Power), developer of the Windspire® wind turbine, and the City of Reno released a request for proposal (RFP) on April 22. The RFP is available for download at http://windspireenergy.com/news-center/artown-rfq/ and is open to all artists in the northern Nevada and Northern California area. Interested artists can also contact Kristyn Bishop at Windspire Energy at marketing@windspireenergy.com  or 775-852-0200 x224.

The Windspire wind turbine at the Downtown Parking Gallery is part of the City of Reno’s $19 million Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Initiative. Funding for the initiative is completely through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act from rebates, federal grants, and bonds paid in energy savings. Projects from the initiative will help to save money in the City’s general fund.

Volunteers removed 81 tons of illegally dumped trash and invasive weeds from local outdoor recreation areas during the 5th Annual Great Truckee Meadows Community Cleanup on Saturday, May 8.

“Although 81 tons is still a lot of illegally dumped trash, we are seeing less every year,” said Christi Cakiroglu, Executive Director of Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful. “With the implementation of the 329-DUMP hotline to report illegal dumping, the continued support of the community and free quarterly bulky item weekends through Waste Management, we are making a huge dent in the problem. Education is the key!”

Over 500 volunteers worked at 14 sites from Verdi to Vista Heights to Dorothy McAlinden Park to Toll Canyon. In all, 541 yards of trash and invasive weeds were removed, including 18 tons of concrete, 500 pounds of metal, and over 300 tires, as well as Scotch and Musk thistle. Read the rest of this entry »

Grab your bike and mark your calendars for May 15 through May 21, 2010. It’s Bike to Work and School Week!

At yesterday’s City Council Meeting, Mayor Cashell presented the proclamation to announce the week in hopes of encouraging all commuters to join the City of Reno and the Truckee Meadows Bicycle Alliance in promoting and participating in bicycling as an alternative, non-polluting form of healthy transportation. 

Commuters who travel by bicycle employ a clean, quiet, and efficient mode of transportation while helping to reduce harmful exhaust pollutants and improve air quality, saving on fuel and maintenance costs associated with driving to work or school. Moderate physical activity such as bicycling on the part of employees can in turn be a benefit to employers by reducing healthcare costs, decreasing absenteeism, and increasing productivity.

The City of Reno and Truckee Meadows Bicycle Alliance encourages parents and kids to bike safely by observing all safety measures, including wearing a helmet and obeying all traffic laws.

To help raise awareness about Bike to Work Week, local elected government officials are riding from Sparks City Hall to Reno City Hall on May 17 at 10 a.m. More information will be sent out in the upcoming days.

The Reno City Council has made “green” a priority by enhancing the City’s efforts to reduce its impact on the environment by providing leadership in the community to encourage residents and businesses to join in this effort. To learn more about the Green Priority and how the City is “Keeping it Green” visit www.reno.gov.

To learn more about Bike to Work and School week visit www.bikenevada.org— “Burn calories, save money, help the environment and have fun.”

The City of Reno and Windspire Energy™ (formerly Mariah Power), developer of the Windspire® wind turbine, released an RFP to paint the City of Reno’s Windspire wind turbine during a live Artown event on July 8th at the West Street Market. The event is a celebration of the City’s commitment to both art and renewable energy.

To read more about this exciting partnership and event with the City of Reno, Windspire Energy, and Artown click here.

The City of Reno Public Works will proudly participate in the 6th annual Building Women Exploration Fair on Friday.

The Building Women Exploration Fair is a unique ‘women only’ event exposing women to non-traditional employment roles in the construction trades plus allows participants to have a “hands on” opportunity at varying trades. Welding, painting, plastering, plumbing, and heavy equipment operation are some of the trades that are highlighted at the fair. Attendees will also be able to learn how to apply and qualify for free building trade apprenticeship programs.

The Building Women Exploration Fair is presented by the Western Apprenticeship Coordinators Association (WACA) in partnership with the Inter-Tribal Council of Nevada, Job Opportunities in Nevada (JOIN), Inc., Truckee Meadows Community College, and Western Nevada Supply.

The City of Reno is dedicated to a diversified workforce representative of the community. For more information about the event visit www.buildingtradejobs.org.

What: Building Women Exploration Fair

When: Friday, April 16 from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Where: TMCC/IGT Applied Technology Center at 475 Edison Way, Reno, Nevada

Residents in Washoe County will be able to dispose of their household bulky items (free of charge) and municipal solid waste (reduced rates) during special community events in April. These events are being held in an effort to reduce illegal dumping in our community. For complete details and requirements please read this information from Waste Management.

The Spring-Summer Program Brochure produced by the Reno Parks, Recreation & Community Services Department is now available. The Brochure contains information on public art, special events, senior programs, summer camps, swim lessons & pool schedules, adult leagues, a facility & park directory and more.

Download brochure (5mb) or pick it up at one of these facilities:

* Evelyn Mount Northeast Community Center, 1301 Valley Road
* Neil Road Recreation Center, 3925 Neil Road
* McKinley Arts & Culture Center, 925 Riverside Drive
* Teglia’s Paradise Park Activity Center, 2745 Elementary Drive
* Southside Cultural Center, 190 East Liberty Street
* Northwest Pool, 2925 Apollo Way

To have a copy mailed to you or for more information call (775) 334-2262.

Baby, it’s cold outside!  But you can help warm things up by participating in the “Jump Shots for Jackets” winter clothes drive at the Reno Events Center on December 13 prior to the Reno Bighorns game.

Just bring a new or gently used coat, jacket, hat or gloves to help the underprivileged. The first 150 fans to donate any of those items will receive a lift ticket, courtesy of the Sugar Bowl Ski Resort. (A $60 value!)

Beginning at 1 p.m., a Reno Fire Department ladder truck and the Reno Police Department’s K-9 unit will be on-hand outside the Reno Events Center for children to enjoy. Bruno, the Bighorns’ beloved mascot, and members of the Reno Dance Team will also be on-hand to sign autographs and mingle with the crowd. Read the rest of this entry »